Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A budget for Wiltshire’s communities



The budget for next year 2012/13 was agreed at council today. The budget will continue to invest in key services and protect the most vulnerable in our communities.
It was agreed that council tax will be frozen at zero per cent for the third year running, that free swimming for young people during school holidays will be introduced, and support will be provided for communities to celebrate and take part in this year’s once-in-a-lifetime events; the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Torch Relay route.
Our financial plan, which was published last year, has been reviewed to reflect the changes and challenges that we continue to face.

Despite the tough economic climate, we will invest £9.7 million into adult services and £4.9 million into children’s services ensuring vulnerable adults and children are supported. £152 million will be invested in the delivery of affordable homes, roads and roads maintenance, superfast broadband, new campuses and communities.  
In 2012/13 the funding from government will decrease by £3.2 million. This, combined with the rising costs of goods and services and the need for additional funding to meet the needs of Wiltshire’s growing number of older people and children, means the council must make efficiencies of £32.6 million in 2012/13.

We will find the efficiencies needed by continuing to work innovatively. Our transformation programme will save £17 million in property sales and net savings of £4.5 million per year by 2014. By working differently we can remove duplication and waste and by working more closely with our public sector partners we can look at where our assets could be shared and, where possible, our services can be co-located; following the model at our Monkton Park offices, where the police recently relocated. We are also further reviewing our structure and responsibilities at service director level to align services within the new structure and deliver further efficiencies.

The plan allocates £273 million for investment in Wiltshire over the next three years. Major projects will deliver more affordable homes, an increase in roads maintenance and repairs, and the implementation of high-speed broadband, new community campus models in Corsham, Melksham and Salisbury and an allocation of £500,000 for community area transport groups to decide on local transport priorities and schemes. Local businesses, wherever possible, will be delivering the work, creating jobs for local people and boosting the local economy.

Speaking at today’s meeting, council leader Jane Scott said: “Our priority at Wiltshire Council has always been to deliver what’s best for the people of Wiltshire: to look after our growing ageing population, our vulnerable children, to manage the challenging economic situation and to keep council tax at a zero percent increase for the third year running.
"We have a clear vision – to create stronger and more resilient communities. And our goals – to provide high quality, low cost customer focused services, to prioritise local issues, to be open and honest in our decision making, and to work with our partners to support Wiltshire’s communities –- remain at the forefront of everything that we do. This is a budget that will deliver what’s best for the people of Wiltshire – a budget that makes a difference.”
Jane Scott’s full budget speech is now available on the budget and spending page of the Wiltshire Council website.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Broadband Coverage

Broadband providers are being consulted on their existing superfast broadband networks in Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire and Swindon and whether they have any plans to deploy superfast broadband over the next three years.

It is therefore imperative that any operator already delivering or planning to deliver services that exceed what has been detailed in the maps make their plans known to the relevant local authority.

Businesses and residents are also welcome to feedback about the coverage maps.

In particular we want to know:
1. Where there is only less than a 2Mbps service available
2. Where superfast broadband availability is incorrectly shown

Responses to this consultation document should be returned to the respective contacts listed at the end of this page by 17:00hrs on 16 March 2012.

See link for maps and consultation documents: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wiltshireonline/?page_id=1721 

Monday, February 20, 2012

Practical guide for community projects

Winning funding and delivering community projects: A practical guide to winning grants and delivering community projects developed by Neil and Marion Carpenter of Corsley, Wiltshire.

If you require any further information or would like to discuss this in more detail, please contact Neil or Marion on the following numbers: 

 Download the guide:   http://post.ly/5TtBx 


Neil@nmc2.co.uk
Marion@nmc2.co.uk

 
T: 01373 832314
M: 07919 057997

Proposed Submission Draft Minerals Site Allocation DPD – Consultation Minerals sites in Wiltshire and Swindon


Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council have jointly published the Proposed Submission draft Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) for a final round of formal consultation, along with a series of evidence reports[1].

The Proposed Submission draft Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations DPD responds to comments received through previous rounds of consultation in 2010 and sets out a series of proposals for locating 7 new sand and gravel quarries within the plan area[2]  to meet the councils’ locally derived forecast provision requirements of 1.2 million tonnes per annum through the plan period up to 2026. The DPD has been developed with a restoration led approach at its heart (seeking biodiversity and amenity enhancements not the landfilling of putrescible waste), advocating upfront consideration of suitable after uses for the minerals sites in the document. Details of these sites are presented below.

Proposed minerals site name/location
Size of site hectares (ha)
Estimated resource yield
Current land use
Community Area
Cox’s Farm
106.1
2,400,000
Agricultural
Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade
Blackburr Farm
49.7
812,000
Agricultural
North Farm
75.6
300,000
Agricultural
Land east of Calcutt
172.6
2,200,000
Agricultural
Land at Cotswold Community
38.56
2,760,000
Agricultural/ former educational and residential facility
Malmesbury
Land near Compton Bassett
23.4
450,000
Agricultural
Calne
Extensions to Brickworth Quarry
25.2
1,948,000
Agricultural/
Woodland
South Wiltshire

The Proposed Submission draft Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations DPD and evidence base documents will be available for comment throughout the 6-week consultation period running from the 30 January to 12 March 2012. The Council encourages anyone wishing to view and comment on the consultation documents to use the council
s consultation website:

For those without access to a computer, hard copies of the documents can be viewed in the Council’s offices in Chippenham (Monkton Park), Devizes (Browfort), Salisbury (Milford Street) and Trowbridge (County Hall and Bradley Road) and Swindon Borough Council (Wat Tyler House) as well as all local libraries.
Once the consultation period has closed, the Proposed Submission draft Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations DPD, supporting evidence base and all comments received during the consultation will be presented to Full Council for final approval, before being submitted to the Secretary of State in June/July 2012. From that point, the document will be in the independent examination process.

For further information please contact the Minerals and Waste Policy Team (Economy and Enterprise) at Wiltshire Council by telephone (01225 713429) or email:.


[1] For minerals and waste matters, Wiltshire Council prepares its policy framework jointly with Swindon Borough Council.
[2] For minerals planning, the plan area delineates the boundary of Wiltshire and Swindon, excluding the New Forest.

Want to know more about how to stay warm this winter?

Save money on your heating bills

For free or discounted loft and cavity wall insulation call 0800 512 012 for Wiltshire Council’s warm and well scheme or go to www.warmandwell.co.uk or ring 01722 434349 for Wiltshire Council’s home energy adviser.

Advice on how to make your home warmer and to access grants

Ridgeway Care & Repair (part of Aster Living) can offer you advice on how to make your home warmer, healthier and more energy efficient.

Get information on heating or insulation grants that could be available to you. If you have low income or a health condition the work may even be free. Ridgeway can also help arrange private works with reputable trusted contractors. Call for more information on (01380) 829009, textphone 07720 700200 or email wcr@asterliving.co.uk

Benefit advice

For advice on help with benefits and paying your fuel bills, contact Wiltshire Citizens Advice Bureau on 0844 375 2775 or 0300 456 8375.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Review of mobile library routes

The mobile route review is a routine event and looks at the routes and stops, not the service itself. There will not be a reduction in the number of mobiles, the number of mobile staff or the time mobiles spend out on the road.

In order for a mobile library stop to be viable it should attract an average of four customers on a regular basis. Where a stop has consistently failed to meet this target over a 12 month period, we propose to discontinue the stop to allow for busier stops to be extended or new ones created where demand exists.
Should a stop be moved within a village or discontinued any remaining customers who are unable to travel to another mobile stop or static branch can apply for the Home Library Service.

To find out more about the proposals for your area, or if you are unsure which mobile visits your community please look at the A-Z list of library stops 58kb .

Proposed new mobile library schedules

The consultation period ends on Friday 11 May 2012.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Public exhibition - 400 new homes in east Melksham

An exhibition detailing plans to build around 400 homes on the east of Melksham will be held at Melksham Oak School on Thursday 16 February from 1pm until 8pm.

The joint presentation from Hallam Land Management and Bloor Homes is an opportunity for the public to find out more and comment on emerging development proposals on land to the south of the Clackers Brook development which is being built at the moment. 

The firms are seeking the views of residents ahead of submitting a planning application to Wiltshire Council. 

Around 2,000 new homes are due to be built in the Melksham area by 2026, as part of Wiltshire Council's 'core strategy' for the county.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Could you help local people get online?

Wiltshire Online is a project that aims improve access to broadband across the county and ensure everyone has the opportunity to become digitally literate and confident users of technology. 

To help more people take advantage of new technology and the internet, the team is recruiting, supporting and developing a team of digital champion volunteers. 

These will empower volunteers to work in their local communities and help local residents and businesses get online.  Wiltshire Online is also offering help in community venues such as libraries, or in the comfort of someone’s own home.  They are engaging with local schools to establish a culture of intergenerational working.

Melksham Pilot.
A six week pilot, running from 20 February until 2 April 2012 is due to start shortly.  The team are currently recruiting volunteers.  We are also working with Melksham Library to facilitate access to computers and working with Melksham Oak to run intergenerational support sessions at the school.  Further information available online: www.wiltshireonline.org or contact 01225 793349

Plans for Melksham Skate Park


Exciting plans are afoot to redevelop the Melksham skate park in King George V Playing Fields.  The current skate park is nearing the end of its lifespan and a group of skaters have come together to ensure the future of the facility. 

The group's aim is to raise up to £200,000 for the new facility which will be built by Maverick Industries, a leading skate park provider.  The concrete park will occupy the same site as the existing facility and will have a lifespan of around 40 years.

The group are looking for local businesses to sponsor this new exciting venture.  For more information please contact James at James@thehubskatestore.co.uk .